Top picks Jenkins, James will miss part of workouts

Both 49ers running back LaMichael James and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will miss OTAs due to their schools' quarter system. (AP)

The NFL announced the offseason OTA and minicamp schedule for all 32 teams today, and the 49ers’ top two draft picks will miss part of the workouts due to academic commitments.

First-round pick A.J. Jenkins has said he won’t attend the rookie minicamp from May 11-13 in order to walk in his graduation ceremony. The Illinois wide receiver and communications major will graduate on May 13.

“It’s a free education from a great university,” Jenkins said last week. “So I don’t want to take it for granted.”

Oregon running back LaMichael James, the team’s second-round pick, will also miss part of the offseason workouts, which includes OTAs May 22-24, May 29-31 and June 4-7. There is a full-squad minicamp from June 12-14.

James is scheduled to graduate in mid-June and, per NFL rules, rookies cannot participate in offseason workouts until their academic calendar has concluded. Oregon is on the quarter system and has a later commencement than most schools. Under the policy, an exception is made for the rookie minicamp, which James is expected to attend.

James could participate in part of the full-squad minicamp from June 12-14, depending on when he takes his last final exam. Oregon’s finals are from June 11-15.

“It’s always good to have that degree,” James, a sports business major, said Monday on KNBR. “We’re always one snap away and that’s true for everybody. You can’t play football forever.”

Stanford wide receiver Chris Owusu, one of the 49ers’ top undrafted free agents, will also miss OTAs due to his school’s quarter system. Stanford’s final exams are from June 8-13.

The 49ers’ offseason workouts are not open to the public and a limited number are expected to be open to the media.

The Niners can open their training camp as early as July 26, which is 15 days before their preseason opener against the visiting Vikings.